I did portraits of my seriously adorable nieces and nephew a few weeks back. And I’ve got to say, this might be my favorite session yet. First, they’re all gorgeous. So really, it was super easy. And I had a ton of fun taking them to different spots in the Wetlands Park here in Las Vegas. Plus, as I’ve edited this session, I keep coming up with new things I want to try — new poses, new lighting, off-camera flash. All kinds of goods! I love a photo shoot in which I get home and the portraits simply give me more inspiration.

I’m not through editing yet, but here are 10 of my favorites from the shoot thus far. (But seriously, it was hard picking only 10. This may be due to the fact that I’m the biased aunt, and I love them all and think they’re totes amazing to look at.) Regardless, so much love, and so much fun!

My first passion as a photographer was landscapes. That really arose from my love of travel and capturing the places I visited. But it wasn’t long before I started noticing the people in those places. And I wanted to capture them too — their expressions, their lives, their every day interactions and play. Thus, it should come as no surprise, that I have also fallen in love with portrait photography. I love photographing faces. Human expression is so varied and yet so much the same from person to person. Every time I capture true emotion, it’s like gold. I get giddy.

I took this picture in Northern Ireland at Dunluce Castle. The day was cold, and we were walking between cities when we stopped off at the castle (and the adorable little sandwich shop nearby — The Wee Cottage!). But I think the windy, cloudy, cold day worked in my favor when I took this shot because the mood is perfect. Kind of eery, don’t you think?

I spent Saturday afternoon hanging out at Tule Springs (also known as Floyd Lamb Park) with one of my best friends and my niece and nephew. It was a fantastic afternoon of picnicking, tossing a football, blowing bubbles and taking pictures. This precious guy was obviously asking for a portrait. So I obliged. 🙂

This is why I love Las Vegas. For some people it’s the shows, the proximity to the strip, the gambling. For me, it’s these dam pretty rocks! I mean, how can you get tired or colors like these? Gorgeous. I took this shot in Valley of Fire, about an hour outside of Las Vegas. It’s one of my favorite places ever. For reals. You drive along for an hour, and there’s nothing but desert. Nothing wrong with desert, but it all pretty much looks the same. And then, it’s as if a mirage appears. A red mirage. The land is so bright! Go a little deeper into the red, and you discover all sorts of colors: yellow, orange, purple. So, so pretty. This particular shot was captured on the way to the Fire Wave. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this place.

Heather Rae

Photographer. Traveler. Storyteller. On the adventure of a lifetime. I'm a fan of running in mud, long conversations in little cafes, climbing mountains, watching waves. What's In Search of Squid? Quite simply, my quest to have it all.

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